False teeth cleaner

ABSTRACT

A power-operated appliance for cleaning a set of false teeth. A circular brush is rotatably mounted in the bottom of an open top receptacle for rotation about a vertical axis. A cover is adapted to close this receptacle and carries another circular brush rotatably mounted about a vertical axis coaxial with the vertical axis of the first brush. An electric motor drives through a transmission the two brushes in opposite direction, so as to clean a set of false teeth inserted between the two brushes. The transmission for the brush carried by the cover includes a telescopic shaft coaxial with the vertical cover pivot to allow lifting the cover and brush carried thereby off the receptacle and rotating the same to one side of the receptacle for uncovering the lower brush for the insertion of a set of false teeth. The receptacle is adapted to be filled with a cleaning liquid, which may be circulated through the receptacle. Locating means are provided to prevent rotation and displacement of the set of false teeth during cleaning.

United States Patent [1 1 Gauthier Nov. 27, 1973 FALSE TEETH CLEANER[75] Inventor: Oscar Gauthier, Ville de Brossard, Quebec, Canada [73]Assignee: Dento Inc.,East Montreal, Quebec,

Canada 22 Filed: Sept. 3, 1971 211 App]. No.: 177,684

[57] ABSTRACT A power-operated appliance for cleaning a set of falseteeth. A circular brush is rotatably mounted in the bottom of an opentop receptacle for rotation about a vertical axis. A cover is adapted toclose this receptacle and carries another circular brush rotatablymounted about a vertical axis coaxial with the vertical axis of thefirst brush. An electric motor drives through a transmission the twobrushes in opposite direction, so as to clean a set of false teethinserted between the two brushes. The transmission for the brush carriedby the cover includes a telescopic shaft coaxial with the vertical coverpivot to allow lifting the cover and brush carried thereby off thereceptacle and rotating the same to one side of the receptacle foruncover- [56] References Cited ing the lower brush .for the insertion ofa set of false UNITED STATES PATENTS teeth. The receptacle is adapted tobe filled with a 3,055,029 9/1962 Maetzold 15/21 R cleaning liquid,which y be circulated through the 3,149,358 9/1964 Ch db 15/2 Rreceptacle. Locating means are provided to prevent 3,439,370 4/1969McLaughlin... 15/21 R X rotation and displacement of the set of falseteeth dur- 3,564,636 2/1971 Tomer l5/l60 ing leaning 3,654,655 4/1972Mitnick [5/21 A l 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Edward L;Roberts Att0meyPierre Lesperance 2S hhhhhhhhhh 01 IN VE N TOR Oscar GA uTH/ER BY W AGENT Patented Nov. .27, 1973 3,774,256

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 INVEN TOR Oscar GAUTH/ER BY Q AGFNT FALSE TEETHCLEANER The present invention relates to a power-operated appliance forcleaning a set of false teeth. Sets of false teeth are usually cleanedby means of a manuallyoperated brush. The operation is time-consuming,inesthetic and not always very effective.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide anappliance for cleaning a set of false teeth which is power operated andeffectively cleans a set of false teeth in a very short time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power-operatedappliance of the character described, so arranged that a set of falseteeth is inserted into, and removed from, the appliance very easily andin a very fast manner.

Another object of the present invention relates to an appliance of thecharacter described including a pair of opposed circular brushes whichsimultaneously clean opposite sides of the set of false teeth insertedtherebetween.

Another object of the invention relates to an appliance of the characterdescribed, in which the opposed brushes rotate in opposite direction tokeep to a minimum the resulting torque on the set of false teeth andthereby prevent damage to the same.

Another object of the invention relates to an appliance of the characterdescribed, which is provided with means to constantly circulate acleaning liquid around the false teeth during brush cleaning thereof.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will becomemore apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the appliance in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the same, on a smaller scale;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the appliance taken along line 33of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a plan section taken along line 44 of FIG. 3, the upper brushbeing removed.

In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elementsthroughout.

The appliance in accordance with the invention comprises a receptacle 1supported by a base 2, being secured thereto, for instance, by bolts 3.Receptacle 1 defines a generally cylindrical cavity 4 open at the top,as indicated at 5. A cover 6 is adapted to close cavity 4. A first lowerbrush 7 is disposed within cavity 4 and is joumalled in a fluid-proofmanner in the bottom 8 of receptacle 1 for rotation about a verticalaxis. Brush 7 has a circular disc-like head 9, of flat shape, withupwardly directed bristles 10, the outer ends of which extend normallyin a substantially flat common plane. A shaft 11 is screwed into, orotherwise removably secured, to the center of head 9 and is joumalled inthe bottom 8 and extends into base 2, a pulley 12 being secured thereto.

and close to the free ends of the bristles of the lower brush 7 in theclosed position of cover 6.

A conventional electric motor and a reduction gear assembly is housedwithin a casing 18 and has output shafts 19 and 20 which rotate inopposite direction and at substantially low equal speeds. Casing 18 issecured to a mounting plate 21, which, together with a mounting plate21, is secured within the base by the bolts 3 with the intermediary ofspacers 22.

A drive pulley 23 is secured to output shaft 19 and a rubber belt 24 istrained on pulleys 23 and 12 for driving the lower brush 7. The otheroutput shaft 20 telescopically fits within a tubular shaft 25 and has across pin 26 extending within longitudinal slot 27 of tubular shaft 25for driving the same in rotation while allowing axial movement oftubular shaft 25.

Shaft 25 is joumalled by means of bushings 28 within an axial bore 29extending partially within the cover 6 and in a cylindrical pivotextension 30 integral with the underside of cover 6 at one side thereof.

A pulley 31 is keyed to the upper end of tubular shaft 25 in the planeof he pulley 17 of the upper brush shaft 16 and the two pulleys aredrivingly interconnected by a rubber belt 32. The two pulleys and therubber belt are freely movable within an elongated cavity 33 made incover 6.

Cylindrical extension 30 rotatably fits an open top cylindrical bore 34made in a thickened portion 35 of the wall of receptacle 1. A handle 36is secured to, or made integral with, the center of cover 6. By graspinghandle 36, the cover may be lifted off the receptacle 1 from its closedposition shown in FIG. 3 with the cylindrical extension 30 simplysliding up within open top bore 34. This upward movement is possiblebecause of the telescopic driving shaft arrangement formed by tubularshaft 25 and shaft 20.

Once the cover 6 is in an upper limit position sufficient for the upperbrush 7 to clear the top of receptacle 1, the cover and brush can beswung about the vertical axis of cylindrical extension 30 and also thetelescopic shaft 20, 25 to clear the cavity 4, so that the lower brushis exposed. The reverse movement is effected to close the cover.

The cover is maintained in closed position by being provided with astepped pin 37 projecting from the underside of the cover at a pointpreferably diametrically opposite telescopic shaft 20, 25 and engageablewith a blind bore 38 made in a thickened portion 39 of receptacle 1,said thickened portion 39 being diametrically opposite thickened portion35.

A spring-loaded manually-operated catch 40 is carried by receptaclethickened portion 39 and is urged by its spring 41 into engagement withthe step of pin 37 to lock the cover in closed position. Outward pullexerted on the latch 40 will unlock the step pin 37 to permit raising ofthe cover.

A plunger rod 42 is vertically slidable in thickened portion 39, extendsthrough the mounting plates 21, 21' and is adapted to bear against. theactuator button 43 of a micro switch 44 electrically connected in thecontrol circuit of the electric motor located in casing 18.

Plunger rod- 42 is spring loaded. by a spring 45 to a normally raisedposition off the push button 43 of the normally open micro switch 44.When the cover is closed, a pad 46 carried by the underside of the cover6, abuts against the upper end of the plunger rod 42 and displaces thesame vertically downwardly against action of spring 45 to push down onpush button 43 of the micro switch to thereby close the switch.

The inside surface of the cavity 4 forms an upwardly directed step 47all around the cavity and substantially at the level of the free ends ofthe brush bristles. Step 47 serves to removably receive a thin circularlocator plate 48, which is provided with notches 49 receiving bosses 50which project from the wall of the cavity 4 at the level of the step 47,whereby the locator plate is prevented from rotating inside thereceptacle.

The locator plate 48 has an aperture 51 made therethrough, of thegeneral shape of the external outline of a set of false teeth A to becleaned when said false teeth are seen in plan view. Locator plate 48thus serves to prevent rotation and displacement of the set of falseteeth A relative to the receptacle. However, the false teeth arerelatively free within aperture 51, so that various sizes of false teethcan be accommodated within one locator plate aperture 51. However,locator plates with apertures 51 of different sizes are preferablyprovided to accommodate all sizes of false teeth.

The false teeth having a loose fit within the aperture 51 are free tomove up and down with respect to the locator plate. 7

Receptacle 1 is adapted to be filled with a cleaning liquid, to immerseboth brushes and also the set of false teeth A. The cover, when closed,has a fluidtight joint with the receptacle. For applications wherein theappliance is to be used very often, such as by dentists, the receptaclewill preferably be provided with conduit means for constantlycirculating a cleaning liquid through the cavity. An inlet liquidconduit 52 opens within the top portion of receptacle 1, while an outletconduit 53 communicates with the bottom portion of the receptacle. Thetwo conduits are connected to a water supply and to a drain respectivelyby flexible tubing or the like.

The electric drive motor is connected to a master control switch 54mounted in base 2 and to an electrical supply wire 55.

The appliance is used and operates as follows.

With the set of false teeth A disposed between the two brushes 7 and 13within the aperture 51 of locator plate 48, the cover 6 being closed,the micro switch 44 is automatically closed, and with the main switch 54closed, the electric drive motor in casing 18 rotates the two outputshafts l9 and 20 in opposite direction at about equal speeds, wherebythe two rotary brushes rotate in opposite direction and at equal speeds.More specifically, shaft 19 rotates lower brush shaft 11 through pulleys23 and rubber belt 24, while shaft 20 rotates tubular shaft 25, in turnrotating the upper brush shaft 16 through pulleys 17, 31 and rubber belt32.

Because the two rotary brushes preferably rotate in opposite directionand at equal speeds, the resulting torque on the set of false teeth A isa minimum and the pressure with which the false teeth bear on thelocator plate, is also at a minimum, eliminating any possible damage tothe false teeth. The locator plate aso serves to maintain the set offalse teeth in substantially centered position with respect to therotary brushes. The bristles of the rotary brush simultaneously contactand clean opposite sides of the set of false teeth, that is the upperand lower main faces thereof, as well as the inside and outside lateralfaces, including the crevices or grooves between the artificial teeth.Some of the bristles are displaced laterally and exert a lateralpressure on the set of false teeth.

For best cleaning, it is preferable to provide a reversible electricmotor with a time-operated reversing switch, whereby the direction ofrotation of the two brushes is reversed approximately every 30 seconds,so that the brush bristles will clean any possible areas of the set offalse teeth not brushed during brush rotation in one direction.

It will be noted that the set of false teeth are free to move up anddown with respect to the locator plate, so that, eventually, allsurfaces thereof will be cleaned. To assist in the cleaning, thereceptacle is filled with a liquid, such as water with, preferably, acleansing and sanitizing agent.

For appliances in accordance with the invention intended for personaluse, the receptacle is simply filled with the cleaning liquid. Forappliances intended to be used by dentists where several sets of falseteeth a day are to be cleaned, the receptacle will be provided with theconduits 52,53 for constant circulation of the cleaning liquid. Cleaningof a set of false teeth will normally require a few minutes.

After cleaning, latch 40 is pulled and cover 6 is lifted by handle 36,so that the upper brush 13 clears the top of the receptacle and then thecover is swung to one side about the pivotal axle of cylindricalextension 30, which acts as a pivot. The now exposed set of false teethis removed, the cleaning liquid emptied and the receptacle, afterrinsing, is ready to receive another set of false teeth and be filled bycleaning liquid.

As a modification of the appliance described, the cover 6 instead ofbeing hinged to receptacle 1 can be detachable therefrom and providedwith two diametrically opposed stepped pins 37 to lock the cover inclosed position. Also, two micro switches 44 are provided each with aplunger rod 42 arranged adjacent an associated stepped pin 37 to insurethat the cover is fully closed before the motor and brushes can bestarted. In this case, telescopic shaft 20,25 is replaced by two shaftsections with a releasable coupling to permit bodily removal of thecover.

The shape of the surface defined by the free ends of the brush bristles15 can also be modified to effeciently clean all surfaces of the set offalse teeth. For the same reason, the bristles 15 can be inclinedrelative to brush head 14. For instance, upper brush 13 can have longerbrush bristles at the center and at the brush periphery to provideconvex surface formed by the bristle ends, while the bristles of thelower brush will be inclined towards the brush center relative to thebrush head.

I claim:

1. A power-operated appliance for cleaning a set of false teethcomprising a liquid receiving receptacle having an opening to receive aset of false teeth, a cover to close said opening, a pair of brushesrotatably mounted in said receptacle for the rotation about coaxial axesperpendicular to the plane of said brushes with the brush bristles ofone brush facing and close to the brush bristles of the other brush andarranged to receive a set of false teeth therebetween, and power meansto rotate said brushes, whereby the latter will simultaneously contactand clean opposite sides of a set of false teeth disposed between thetwo brushes.

2. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, further including holding meansarranged intermediate the two brushes, removably secured to said supportand releasably holding a set of false teeth against substantial rotationand displacement relative to said receptacle.

3. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receptacle openingis located at the top thereof, said cover extending across the top ofsaid receptacle in the closed position, and wherein the axes of saidbrushes are vertically arranged with one brush rotatably supported inthe bottom of said receptacle, and the other brush rotatably supportedby said cover and located in said receptacle when said cover is inclosed position.

4. An appliance as claimed in claim 3, further including a base for saidreceptacle and wherein said power means include an electric motorcarried by said base having a first driving connection for said onebrush and a second driving connection for said other brush.

5. An appliance as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cover is hinged tosaid receptacle and the hinge axis of said cover is a verticaltelescopic pivot and said second driving connection includes a verticaltelescopic shaft rotatably mounted in said receptacle and in said coverand coaxial with said hinge axis of said cover, whereby said cover andthe brush carried thereby are liftable off said receptacle and pivotableabout said hinge axis to a position in which both said cover and thebrush carried thereby clear said receptacle opening.

6. An appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second drivingconnection further includes belt and pulley drive means located in saidcover with the pulley means fast on said telescopic shaft and on theaxle of said other brush.

7. An appliance as claimed in claim 4, further including a normally openelectric switch to control said motor and mounted in said base and aswitch actuator carried by said base and engageable by said cover in theclosed position thereof to close said switch.

8. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power means includemeans to rotate the brushes in opposite directions and further includingholding means arranged intermediate the two brushes to releasably hold aset of false teeth against substantial rotation and displacementrelative to said support, said holding means consisting of a platehaving an opening of a shape to loosely receive a set of false teeth forreleasably and non-rotatably holding the same, and means to removablyand non-rotatably hold said plate in said receptacle in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said brushes andat a level intermediate said brushes.

9. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, further includinginlet and outletconduit means connected to the interior of said receptacle to circulatea liquid therein.

1. A power-operated appliance for cleaning a set of false teethcomprising a liquid receiving receptacle having an opening to receive aset of false teeth, a cover to close said opening, a pair of brushesrotatably mounted in said receptacle for the rotation about coaxial axesperpendicular to the plane of said brushes with the brush bristles ofone brush facing and close to the brush bristles of the other brush andarranged to receive a set of false teeth therebetween, and power meansto rotate said brushes, whereby the latter will simultaneously contactand clean opposite sides of a set of false teeth disposed between thetwo brushes.
 2. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, further includingholding means arranged intermediate the two brushes, removably securedto said support and releasably holding a set of false teeth againstsubstantial rotation and displacement relative to said receptacle.
 3. Anappliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receptacle opening islocated at the top thereof, said cover extending across the top of saidreceptacle in the closed position, and wherein the axes of said brushesare vertically arranged with one brush rotatably supported in the bottomof said receptacle, and the other brush rotatably supported by saidcover and located in said receptacle when said cover is in closedposition.
 4. An appliance as claimed in claim 3, further including abase for said receptacle and wherein said power means include anelectric motor carried by said base having a first driving conneCtionfor said one brush and a second driving connection for said other brush.5. An appliance as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cover is hinged tosaid receptacle and the hinge axis of said cover is a verticaltelescopic pivot and said second driving connection includes a verticaltelescopic shaft rotatably mounted in said receptacle and in said coverand coaxial with said hinge axis of said cover, whereby said cover andthe brush carried thereby are liftable off said receptacle and pivotableabout said hinge axis to a position in which both said cover and thebrush carried thereby clear said receptacle opening.
 6. An appliance asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said second driving connection furtherincludes belt and pulley drive means located in said cover with thepulley means fast on said telescopic shaft and on the axle of said otherbrush.
 7. An appliance as claimed in claim 4, further including anormally open electric switch to control said motor and mounted in saidbase and a switch actuator carried by said base and engageable by saidcover in the closed position thereof to close said switch.
 8. Anappliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power means include meansto rotate the brushes in opposite directions and further includingholding means arranged intermediate the two brushes to releasably hold aset of false teeth against substantial rotation and displacementrelative to said support, said holding means consisting of a platehaving an opening of a shape to loosely receive a set of false teeth forreleasably and non-rotatably holding the same, and means to removablyand non-rotatably hold said plate in said receptacle in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said brushes andat a level intermediate said brushes.
 9. An appliance as claimed inclaim 1, further including inlet and outlet conduit means connected tothe interior of said receptacle to circulate a liquid therein.